Lockwood Grabs Your Inner Pyromaniac, Shakes it Half to Death
Information Courtesy of Megan Egglesden, Lockwood Product Manager; commentary by Terra_Cide, HSM Managing Editor
You know those people who constantly carp about how the people of the Home community are never listened to and their wishes aren’t granted, as if they expect their desires to magically appear a week or two after they’ve been posted? I’d like to take this moment to tell them to shut up.
I’m serious; I’ve kept largely silent on the matter for a long while now, but there comes a time when the patience snaps, the yardstick comes out, and it’s looking to make some backsides impossible to use as seating devices for a good month.
Consumer demand is such a double-edged sword. If it’s something that is highly sought after, people get impatient and want it now. If a producer acquiesces, chances are the product gets rushed out before flaws can all be found and then comes the consumer backlash. If a producer holds their ground and focuses solely on making their product as “right” as possible, then the rumor mill starts grinding out all sorts of groundless speculation that no amount of communication can fix. Things take time to get right, and it’s a bit mind-boggling as to why the fevered masses don’t get that.
It’s certainly a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. Think back to all past, present and forthcoming releases in Home: remember how people practically foamed at the mouth when the Hub, et al, was in closed beta and they weren’t one of the people picked to test it out? How many of those people still champion the redesign of Home?
Unless you’ve kept yourself completely in the dark with what’s going on in Home, you’re aware by now that Lockwood has quite a bit of stuff that is on the horizon for Home. We all know Mercia is forthcoming this summer, and with it, Home’s servers will experience the Slashdot effect like it’s never had before. First though, there’s another long-hoped for product coming July 1st.
Recall when the Midnight Glade came out – and with it, Lockwood’s fireworks – that the one thing people commented on about them was that there was no sound. The fact that sound would have rendered the fireworks an active item, and at that time, active items took up a lot of furniture spaces took a while to sink into people’s minds, if it sunk it at all.
Now, if I were a developer, and I knew that the next core update would adjust the amount of furniture slots an active item takes, I would think that waiting for that update to come to pass, and then seeing how few of those slots I could take up with a new active item fireworks machine would be the best strategy possible. Then, I would time the release of said item to occur around the time of two very fireworks-intense holidays: Canada Day and the 4th of July.
I’ve had a chance to take a peek at Lockwood’s PODI and its capabilities, and I’ve got to say, this is probably the most interactive active item to date in Home. I mean that. And once the Midnight Glade becomes a public space for a limited time, you’ll be able to experience it yourself. I promise you won’t be disappointed. As the teaser verbiage states, it is a robot that shoots fireworks out of its bottom, but it’s so, so much more. You will like it. A lot. And it will be worth your not-so-long wait.
Of course, if that’s not something that tickles your fancy, Lockwood has plenty of other goodies coming in July:
Be on the lookout for more info on these items (and more) as it comes available!
June 27th, 2012 by Terra_Cide | 5 comments
Terra _Cide is the former Community Manager for Lockwood Publishing and Editor Emeritus for HomeStation Magazine.
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Wow! Once more Lockwood hits one out of the park! I love the new clothing too, can’t wait for these updates.
I’m looking forward to this a lot. It’s a puzzling thing though that they’ve chosen to point out that they’re in HD. Isn’t everything in Home in HD? Anyways, it’s still looking good and I’ll be at the event when it shows up.
Wow Terra tell us what you really think about whining wanters with ample bums!
I tend to agree with that statement and people who have some unrealistic notion that they are not actually entering into a cross section of humanity on HOME with all its good and bad personalities. -And then audaciously hold Sony responsible for the greater conduct of humanity.
But I know you carry a whip so if I could give you a call when I meet up with one of these cynics I would be truly grateful.
As to the Lockwood fireworks I have not seen them yet but cannot wait to experience them. And Krazy though I do believe that most of HOME is in HD there are some creations which are not. I know sometimes something seems fuzzy or simplistic next to its surroundings. But I am not guru on these things.
I have to say that I hold Sony responsible for saying that Home is a “family friendly” environment, allowing kids as young as 13 to have access and then NOT holding their own environment to that standard. And not just by lack of moderation, but by what they sell and allow third party developers to sell.
Yes there is that Kass- I agree. But how do we censor children from the world at large?
Have you ever been on the playground of a middle school and just listened to children and what they talk about?
I know I sort of had my nose in a book at that age- and to my credit I guess I was a late bloomer. But I remember full well my sister sneaking out, sneaking boys in, experimenting with all sorts of god knows what, getting drunk on peppermint schnapps (it seems to be a right of passage for most girls I know.) and smiling cheerfully at my mum who had no idea any of this is going on.
I also know of at least one 13 year old on this site that posed as someone older and seduced a friend of mine who found himself in the throws of self-disgust after finding out her true age.
I don’t really care how old a person is in general- but I do try and find out right away if they are over or under 21. I find I have a hard time relating to someone who has never been in a night club.
16 would probably be a better age for consent on this site. But how does Sony monitor what the true age of a participant is? I wonder where the parents are in all of this. How much of our world and the rearing of a child should fall on the owness of a company or corporation? If I had any inkling of what the content of HOME was and a child of my own my child would not be on it until at least 16. (by the way a person can apply for emancipation at that age).
Why don’t your write an article on this subject? You are an incredible writer and I would love to see what you have to say on the subject at hand. Plus I am sure several people would want to weigh in with comments of their own. It would generate a lot of buzz I am sure. Here is hoping to see it.
Thanks for your input as always Kass. Its a delight to know someone that is so thoughtful.